SUBJECT: HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY

ASSIGNMENT TOPIC: “OBESITY”

SUBMITTED TO: MADAM SIDRA IQBAL

SUBMITTED BY: SUMERA ATTAULLAH

CLASS# 01
MPHIL 2ND SEMESTER

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES

SHAHEED BENAZIR BHUTTO WOMEN UNIVERSITY
PESHAWAR
Obesity

Introduction:
Obesity is defined as an abnormal or excessive fat accumulation
that presents a risk to the health. The main cause of weight gain
and obesity is the imbalance between the amount of calories you
take in and the calories you burn.
Obesity is a chronic complex disease defined by excessive
fat deposits that can impair health. Obesity can lead to increased
risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, it can affect bone
health and reproduction, it increases the risk of certain cancers.
Obesity influences the quality of living, such as sleeping or
moving.
The diagnosis of overweight and obesity is made by
measuring people’s weight and height and by calculating the
body mass index (BMI): weight (kg)/height² (m²). The body
mass index is a surrogate marker of fatness and additional
measurements, such as the waist circumference, can help the
diagnosis of obesity.The BMI categories for defining obesity
vary by age and gender in infants, children and adolescents.

Adults
For adults, WHO defines overweight and obesity as follows:
overweight is a BMI greater than or equal to 25; and obesity is a
BMI greater than or equal to 30. For children, age needs to be
considered when defining overweight and obesity.

Children under 5 years of age

For children under 5 years of age:overweight is weight-for-
height greater than 2 standard deviations above WHO Child
Growth Standards median; and obesity is weight-for-height
greater than 3 standard deviations above the WHO Child
Growth Standards median.
Children aged between 5–19 years
Overweight and obesity are defined as follows for children aged
between 5–19 years: overweight is BMI-for-age greater than 1
standard deviation above the WHO Growth Reference median;
and obesity is greater than 2 standard deviations above the
WHO Growth Reference median.

Childhood Obesity:
Childhood obesity is a complex health condition that has
many causes. If your child’s weight is putting their health at
risk, their healthcare provider can recommend a robust treatment
plan to improve their physical health and well-being.
Childhood obesity is a complex chronic (long-term)
condition that happens when your child is above a healthy
weight for their age, height and sex assigned at birth.The
medical definition of childhood obesity is having a body mass
index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex in
children aged 2 years and older. Children’s BMI factors differ
from adults. For children, BMI is age- and sex-specific because
their body compositions naturally change as they age.
Healthcare providers use special growth charts to assess a
healthy BMI for children.

Body Mass Index (BMI):

It is one way of measuring whether a person's weight or
body fat is higher than what is considered a healthy weight for a
given height. This is measured by: calculating a person's weight
in kilograms, then dividing that number by the person’s height
in meters squared (kg/m2). If the resulting ratio is high, then it
can be an indicator of high body fat. The body mass index
(BMI)and the weight status it refers to:
Weight status Body Mass Index (BMI):
Underweight Less than 18.5
Normal (healthy weight) 18.5-24.9
Overweight 25-29.9
Obese Class I (Moderately obese) 30-34.9
Obese Class II (Severely obese) 35-39.9
Obese Class III (Very severely obese) 40 and above

Causes of Obesity:
1. Family history of obesity.
2. Unhealthy food habits followed by the individual or the
family.
3. Inactivity or inadequate physical exercise.
4. Certain diseases, such as: Cushing's syndrome,
hypothyroidism, and Prader-Willi syndrome. Medical
problems, such as: arthritis, can also lead to decreased
activity, which may result in weight gain.
5. Certain medications: some medications can lead to weight
gain. These include some antidepressants, anti-seizure
medications, and diabetes medications, as well as certain
types of contraceptives.
6. Changes in sleeping habits: not getting enough sleep or
getting too much sleep can cause hormonal changes that can
increase your appetite.
7. Advanced age.
8. Pregnancy.

What Are the Health Complications of Obesity or Being

Overweight?
1. Fatigue and lack of energy.
2. Shortness of breath.
3. Difficulty sleeping.
4. Back and joint pain.
5. Type 2 diabetes.
6. High levels of cholesterol or triglycerides.
7. High blood pressure.
8. Cardiovascular disease.
9. Gout.
10.Chronic kidney disease.
11.Psychological problems: low self-esteem, lack of confidence,
and feeling isolated, which may lead to depression.
12.Cancer: Such as colon, colorectal, breast, uterine, pancreatic,
prostate, esophageal, liver, and kidney cancers.

Diagnosis:
1. Health history: the doctor may review your weight history,
weight loss efforts, exercise habits, eating patterns, what
other conditions you've had, medications, stress levels and
other issues about your health. The doctor may also review
your family's health history.
2. Initial diagnosis: weight, height, heart rate, blood pressure
and temperature.
3. Body Mass Index (BMI).
4. Measuring your waist circumference.
5. Blood tests: Tests may include a cholesterol test, liver
function tests, a thyroid test and others. Your doctor may
also recommend certain heart tests, such as: an
electrocardiogram (ECG).

Treatment:
The goal of obesity treatment is to help obese individuals
reach and stay at a healthy weight, limit their risks of developing
other serious health issues, and improve their overall quality of
life.This may require the help of a team of health professionals,
including a dietitian, to help patients suffering from obesity
understand their situation and make the necessary changes in
their eating and activity habits; start exercising and eating a
healthy diet. The doctor sets a goal weight for the patient and
explains how it can be achieved. Initially, the goal may be to
lose 5 to 10 percent of their body weight within six months. The
patient may start feeling better upon losing a small amount of
weight, about 5 to 15 percent of their total weight. That is, if the
patient weighs 91 kg and is obese by BMI standards, then this
patient may need a lose between 4.5 to 13.6 kg for their health
to begin to improve.

Option #1: Transition to healthier ways of eating

 Forget the miracle diet as an obesity treatment. When it
comes to managing weight and obesity, changing how you eat
means more than just eating less calories. Instead, your doctor
will take how you eat into consideration when creating your
obesity care plan. Some of the things that you can look at
together include:
Time. Is there a specific time of day that you're most at risk of
overeating or eating unhealthy food?
Place. Where do you normally eat?
Emotions. Do you overeat or eat unhealthy food when you feel
a certain way? For example, when you feel tired, stressed, or
sad? Feeling full. How do you experience the feeling of fullness
after a meal?
These questions provide clues about what's making you
gain weight or preventing you from losing weight. Your doctor
can then help you transition to healthier ways of eating and
having a more sustainable relationship with food.

Option #2: Low reduced calorie diet

Meal replacements are calorie-controlled products that
contain essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. They're
usually high in protein and low in fat and carbohydrates. Meal
replacements replace one or more of your daily meals with
foods or formulas that provide a specified number of calories
(for example, between 800 and 1200 calories a day). Meal
replacements can be part of a clinically supervised obesity care
plan.

Option #3: More physical activity

Moving more and using more energy is another obesity
treatment option. Whether or not it results in weight loss,
physical activity can also improve many aspects of your health.
Regular physical activity can result in health benefits for people
in all BMI categories, such as improving cardio metabolic risk
factors. Start by adding a little extra movement into your
everyday life. If you sit a lot during the day, standing up and
moving around for a few minutes every hour can make a
difference. So can walking to the shops or taking the stairs, if
possible. Even doing small things can mean a lot. The goal is to
have 150 minutes of physical activity a week. You can build up
toward this goal by gradually adding new activities and routines
into your obesity care plan.

Option #4: Behavioral therapy

Since our body and mind are deeply connected, behavioral
therapy is an obesity treatment option that takes this connection
into account. Behavioral therapy are programme that help
patients reach their behavioral or health goals.Behavioral
therapists work with the psychological aspects of weight
management. They can help you identify patterns in your
thoughts, emotions, and behaviour that make you eat more and
gain weight. Eating large portions, snacking frequently, and/or
eating or drinking when you're not hungry are just some of the
patterns you may have around food. The focus of behavioral
therapy is to empower people living with obesity to make
sustainable changes that improve their health, as well as
promote their self-esteem and confidence. Doing this can help
you manage your weight in the long term, improve your health
status, and quality of life.

Option #5: Obesity medications

Obesity medications are obesity treatment options that can
work with the biological processes that affect your appetite.
There are different obesity medications available and they work
in different ways. Some obesity medications help regulate your
appetite and food cravings. These help you eat less and make it
easier to change your lifestyle.
Obesity medications can also help prevent weight regain.
They do this by managing the way your body responds when
you manage weight, such as the constant feeling of hunger.
Other medications help you manage weight by changing the
way your body absorbs food. For example, these lower the
amount of fat that's absorbed by your body.
Option #6: Bariatric surgery
Gastric bypass and other weight-loss surgeries — known
collectively as bariatric surgery — involve making changes to
your digestive system to help you lose weight. Bariatric surgery
is an obesity treatment that can lower your appetite and the
amount of food you can comfortably eat in one sitting. They've
been shown to change the body's metabolism and hormones,
both of which play a major role in how your weight is regulated.
For example, the hormonal changes from bariatric surgery work
to prevent weight regain.
Other Treatment Methods Include:
There are several ways to treat obesity and help patients
reach and stay at a healthy weight. Finding the appropriate
treatment method suitable for each case depends on the patient’s
level of obesity and their overall health status, as well as their
willingness to participate in a weight-loss plan and commit to it
on a long-term basis in order to maintain a healthy weight.
These treatment methods include:
1. Dietary changes.
2. Regular exercise and activity.
3. Behavior modification.
4. Prescription weight-loss medications.
5. Weight-loss surgery: for those with a BMI of 40 or higher.
Prevention:
Whether you're at risk of becoming obese, currently
overweight, or at a healthy weight, you can take steps to prevent
unhealthy weight gain and related health problems. The steps to
prevent weight gain are the same as the steps to lose weight, and
these include:
 Daily exercise: according to the American College of Sports
Medicine, you need to get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-
intensity activity a week to prevent weight gain. Moderately
intense physical activities include: fast walking and
swimming.
 Maintaining a healthy well-balanced diet: this can be
achieved by focusing on low-calorie, nutrient-dense foods,
such as: fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as well as
avoiding saturated fat, sweets and alcohol. It is important to
choose foods that promote a healthy weight and good health.
 Closely monitoring what you eat or drink on a long-term
basis.

Relationship between common mental health disorders

and obesity
The relationship between obesity and common mental
health disorders is complex. There are several theories about
how the two are linked. Some researchers suggest that obesity
can lead to common mental health disorders, whilst others have
found that people with such disorders are more prone to obesity.
Other studies have found no association between the two.
Results from the most recent systematic review of longitudinal
studies point towards bidirectional associations between
depression and obesity. The authors conclude that: ‘Obese
persons had a 55% increased risk of developing depression over
time, whereas depressed persons had a 58% increased risk of
becoming obese’.
Another recent systematic review and meta-analysis found
a weak but positive association between
obesity and anxiety disorders.Obesity is also associated with an
increased risk for a variety of chronic diseases, most of which
are associated with depression which in turn can precipitate
chronic disease due to diminished treatment adherence and/or
response.There are a number of mechanisms that could explain
potential casual associations between obesity and common
mental health disorders.